food · Jodythinks · Restaurant reviews

Mitsuyado Sei-Men’s Double Cheese Ramen: Yay for cheese (but not for traditionalists)

Jody Alarva1 Comment

When my sister and I found ourselves in Makati last month, we knew we had to try the cheese tsukemen (a variety of ramen in which the noodles arrive separately, cold or at room temperature, along a bowl of intense broth into which the noodles are meant to be dipped) in a place famous for it in Jupiter street.

So we headed to Mitsuyado Sei-Men for this:
Double Cheese Ramen

The double cheese tsukemen (Large, P380), which comes sprinkled with parmesan cheese that you pour cheese sauce over before you dip it in broth. Being as it was already 3 pm and we weren’t really hungry at that point, we decided to split and have a side order of edamame (P150) (because my sister always has to have edamame when they have it on the menu)
Edamame

It was to say, interesting. Definitely not for the purists, as I remember telling a colleague about it, and them saying “So basically it’s mac and cheese ramen” and hearing a click in my head as it came together. Cheesy noodles that you dip in rich, meaty broth, yes. Intense flavors and rich, smooth experience, yes again.

Anyone who wants a different ramen experience should definitely go to this, but for those who want a comforting bowl to slurp on that’s easy, maybe not. It took me a while to understand it, and now, while writing about it while the rain is pouring outside, my mouth is starting to water. Not for the faint of heart, and those who are trying to lose any poundage.

Verdict: Must try. Go with an open mind, and around P700 a head if you want your own bowl and side orders.

You can find Mitsuyado Sei-Men here:

No. 22 Jupiter Street, Brgy. Bel Air, Makati City, Philippines.
Operating Hours: 11.00am to 12.00am Monday to Sunday
Telephone: +632 511-1390

 

 

food · Restaurant reviews

Comfort food without the regret at Kettle, Edsa Shangri-la Mall

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I have to admit, I was skeptical about Kettle. When I read about the joint, I kept reading about their fried chicken, and was like, “really, fried chicken? I could get a bucket of Chickenjoy for one order at that place.” However, when a few friends and I went there to have a light lunch, I was fortunately proved wrong.

Here is their famous buttermilk chicken (P519):
Kettle fried chicken

 

The serving is good for 2-3 people, and served with gravy, honey, and corn bread. It was great. The skin crispy, the meat juicy, the serving large, and the gravy + honey combo made weird sense. We were four people sharing this and a couple things more, and I think I ate more than my supposed share. (I apologize to the people at lunch.) I can definitely see myself hungry enough to eat a serving all to myself.

We had the chicken with extra sides of coleslaw (P59) and roasted garlic mashed potato (P89). The mashed potato is my return item of the two, and I can’t imagine eating the chicken without it. It was subtle and comforting and I kept dousing it with honey. Not my finest hour, but hey, for the love of carbs.

Kettle coleslaw and garlic mashed potatoes
We had the corned beef hash (P519) as my friend who had been to the place before had recommended it.
Kettle corned beef

 

It was not your everyday corned beef, with chunks of beef and hunks of potatoes, but going back, I would rather get two orders of chicken, I do like my crispy skin and mashed potatoes.

The thing I liked about Kettle, even if they weren’t touting diet, healthy food, it wasn’t heavy. It may just be because we were sharing, but I didn’t feel like oil was clogging my veins and it was hard to work, thus the no regret part.

Verdict: Prepare around P700 a head if you want your own dish and a drink, but if you’re not starving, P500 is good. Nothing is avant garde, which i think is the point. So if you want unfussy food that people of all ages would like, head to Kettle.

You can find them at:

Level 5 East Wing, Shangrila Plaza Mall,
EDSA corner Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City
Telephone: +632 654-7077
Operating Hours: Everyday 11:00 AM – 09:00 PM

Jodythinks

Damn you, Art Garfunkel

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I have heard this song before and it’s always been the background of heartbreaking scenes to movies and television shows. After binge watching Nip Tuck tonight, this was the song they chose to end it on. I have to admit, it got absurd and weird toward the end, the show, but hearing this song reeled me back in to the finale. The simplicity of the piano. The straightforward message of the lyrics.

Come on, how can you not shed a tear over “I love you and that’s all I know”? It’s heartbreaking. The other lines point toward pain and suffering and just getting through, but the one constant is that the person loves the other.

Now that’s love. It isn’t really perfect. You hurt each other, even if you try your hardest not to. You make plans, they don’t always work out. It hurts. It sucks sometimes. However, the thing about love, from what I’ve experienced, is that you choose the other person, every day. That decision, and the reasoning behind it, is love.

So listen to Art Garfunkel today young’uns. And get haunted too. I know I’ll be listening to this tonight.

What song has haunted you since you heard it?

Jodythinks · Love/Life

Of failed attempts at being active and wearing yourself down

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My knee pads
My knee pads. They’re a new must to a new me.

The knee pads in the photo are fairly new. They’re a new staple to the me that I’ve been this year, since being told I have osteoarthritis. Basically, I wore down my knees to almost non-existent cartilage protection, and started limping. MRI, diagnosis, options, and voila! Age and dirty jokes abound when I had to start wearing these, but they are honestly a godsend. I really like walking around, and with these, i can actually do that without wincing after 30 minutes. Which isn’t really surprising as two doctors told me that I wore my right knee down to the bone.

It’s disappointing, really, as I used to spend hours just leisurely walking, or did futsal for fun, and did boxing and muay thai for a while. With this condition, I have had to change perspectives and find alternative ways to get active again, and actually help myself with this thing, as excess weight only exacerbates the issue.

So what’s the solution to this bit of a conundrum? I don’t know yet. If anyone would like to let me tag along in their low joint impact activities, please, let me know. I am open to most anything, and I think having a friend to work out with helps a lot with keeping yourself motivated.

So what’s keeping you active?

food · Jodythinks · Restaurant reviews

Gino’s Brick Oven Pizza: Thank you carabaos

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I’ve read, and heard about Gino’s Brick Oven Pizza for a while. It’s been in Katipunan for a quite some time, and friends of friends have recommended it for a good dinner, and I see it at least twice a week and always think to myself “I really have to get to this joint.” My family has attempted to go once, but due to weird circumstances, we had to leave, and quickly.

So when my friend K asked to eat at UP Town Center, I steered her towards Gino’s, which is several hundred meters away. I am glad I did.

I really went there for this:

Burrata caprese

The Burrata Caprese (P355) it was a ball of fresh buffalo milk mozzarella sitting on pesto, surrounded by cherry tomatoes, drizzled with olive oil and strips of fresh basil. Cheese and tomatoes. We were three sharing this, which is enough, but if you’re anything like me, you could have had this to yourself. K actually saved some to top her already cheesy pizza slice with. A girl after my own heart.

We had two pizzas, the first was the Sausage pizza, since we had a meat pizza lover with us:
20140830_130546

According to the menu, it was homemade sausage, kesong puti, red onion and basil. The sausage was ultra rich, and I bit into parts that were just fat, so it was kind of jarring sometimes. I am not really a meat pizza person, but I could see that the boyfriend liked it, drizzling generously with both the hot sauce and the chili honey (yes, honey with sili, it weirdly worked).

I loved their Mushroom pizza (P350):
20140830_130240

 

Which had cream, mozzarella, mushrooms, garlic and blue cheese. The mushrooms were the star of the show, with a kick of blue cheese perfectly toned down with the mozzarella. The garlic was a great supporting actor that added enough flavor to not make this simple pizza boring. I think i ate half that pie.

These 12 inch pies fed three hungry people well. We ordered an iced tea pitcher as well (P170), and we were too full to look at the donuts at the display. Since Gino’s shares the space with Cello’s there is an option to other from one or the other. The crack pie wasn’t on the menu so I forgot to ask about it. Did they discontinue the pie? I’ve been curious about it too.

Verdict: New favorite pizza joint. Set aside around P300 per person. Definitely get the burrata caprese! I loved that they used kesong puti in a lot of their offerings, and from the menu, i found out that they use milk from the Philippine Carabao Institute, so thank you carabaos for the yummy, yummy cheese.

Gino’s in QC is here:

2F 341 Katipunan Ave. Loyola Heights QC (above mercury drug)
1108 Quezon City, Philippines

Mon – Thu: 10:30 am – 10:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 10:30 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 10:30 am – 10:00 pm

Phone 225 7462
Email ginosbrickovenpizza@gmail.com
Now who wants to go back with me?

Jodythinks · Love/Life

Throwback Thursday thoughts

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Whenever #throwbackThursday rolls around, I always see these insane posts of photos of people 4 years ago, 10 years, 15. Captions are usually “(Number of) pounds ago, or “Before I had  eyebags” or “Wasn’t i supposed to be more successful by now?”. I think the throwback Thursday posts are a way of reliving our past, whether it be a past figure, a friend you haven’t seen in a long time, and makes us think of regrets we’ve had, or how little we’ve accomplished since then. Looking at yourself younger, more fit, and all around “better” can be a kick to the senses. I know I’ve had those moments when I was like, “If I knew I was going to be this chubby, I would’ve worn string bikinis years ago.” or “Augh, what have I done since this photo?”, little things that nag you and make you nostalgic and a little bit down.

I say, honor your past for what it has done to shape you to who you are today. That teeny pooch you didn’t have 5 years ago that you first got travelling to HK and eating so much street food. Those bags under your eyes because your 3 year old kept you up every single night for a week. The wrinkles around your mouth because you can’t stop smiling in the house you just bought for yourself, even if it means 5 more years of payments to get it to be fully yours.

You earned it. Every bag, wrinkle or pooch. You’ve lived. You’ve experienced so many things since that photo of you in that microskirt that would never fit you again. You’re wiser after the string of bad women that have loved you and left you and know what a good relationship feels like, and what it takes to keep it.

Live. Do it for yourself. Do it for those who can’t because their situations are dire, or they’re not financially able, physically capable.

Make these years count. Stop looking back with regret and thank yourself for surviving what you’ve gone through and being able to live.

We only get one life in this earth, make it the best you can.

 

Love/Life

Where are you taking me?

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source: http://weknowmemes.com

Too often, this is what happens in all kinds of relationships. People get comfortable. They get used to the routine. They forget.

And no, I am not making a thinly veiled jab at the person in my relationship. I am happy thankyouverymuch.

I am talking about your other relationships. The one that have been there for years, that really we forget when something shiny romantic comes along. Your family. Your friends. Your other relationships.

I admit, I can take things for granted. I have a pretty awesome support system. When things crumbled around me, the people I didn’t see all those years, those I wrote off because I knew I hadn’t kept in touch, all took me back into their figurative (and sometimes literal arms).

And my family, we’re flawed, we talk crap about each other. We bite each other’s heads off. We’re there when we’re needed. We’re honest until it’s necessary not to be, when the truth would only hurt more than keeping it to yourself.

I got a different perspective to this when someone I can take for granted began screwing up. Majorly. People around this person were not happy, and still aren’t. Mistakes were logged and scrutinized. Slights, taken as grudges. It’s still going on, and hopefully,things will change enough that both parties will hear each other out, and treat each other better.

This is a public declaration that I will do better at taking my relationships more seriously. Give equal time to those who want it, who need it.

So who needs to talk? Hang out? Get a drink? I’m here.

Jodythinks

Why comparison is the thief of joy

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Teddy Roosevelt aptly put it, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” and in this life and generation, I wholeheartedly agree.

It used to be, that when you went to school reunions, you see the people you went to school with, and how different their lives turned out to be from yours, and you feel bad for a night, or a week even. They became who they set out to be while you’re still finding your path. They found somebody amazing while you’re still in the dating pool. They outgrew the baby fat while you gained 15 pounds and then some since you last saw them. And all the other things you usually hear about when you haven’t seen each other in 10 years.

Social media has eliminated the need for reunions, because when you connect to a person on Facebook or Instagram, you get to see their life, or whatever public persona they choose to reveal to the world.

And it’s usually picture perfect. Filtered selfies, awesome vacation shots, incredible food porn. That is the public life. And you can’t help but shake your head sometimes and ask yourself “Why don’t I get that?”.

Then what happens?

It’s a vicious cycle.

Truth is, there will always be someone who will be better at you at something. Who will look better in a bikini. Who gets to travel the world while you’re stuck in your 9 to 5. When this gets you down on the dumps, remember, you don’t post your crappy outfits, your fail plans, and disappointed thoughts online, so why do you think the people on your feed do? We filter (sometimes quite literally, hello Instagram) what we think looks good, and that’s what we put out there.

Stop comparing your life with someone else’s. It’s unhealthy and it gives you wrinkles. Find what’s good about your life, focus on making it grow, or find other things that make you happy. It’s as simple as that.

Also, you’re awesome. Don’t forget that.

 

food · Restaurant reviews

Silantro: Fil-Mex cheesy goodness

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One of our friends had a birthday last month and asked for a recommendation for where to go. My sister had heard good things about Silantro from another friend, and off we went. The premise was nonpricey Mexican with a Filipino twist, and unlimited mojitos so we figured that would be hard to get wrong, and heck, they did things right.

It was a Friday and the place was packed. It only had about 12 tables and there were double the amount of patrons, half of which were waiting for others to finish. We were hungry, so we ordered a plate of Nachos (P145) to eat while waiting for a table to free up.

Here is what we were served:
Silantro nachos

 

Isn’t it pretty? We said it was like the best kind of parol (for the non-Filipinos, a Christmas decoration like this), since it was colorful, and we could eat it. And eat we did. We finished that sucker off in five minutes we were so hungry. It was so worth every penny, we ordered two more. It was a group of 8 people, and we each had our own things to eat, but it was so good we had to have some more.

We got a table around 30 minutes later and got the Calliente wings (P170):
Silantro wings

Which was their take on buffalo wings from what we gathered. I liked the green stuff but was unsure what it is. The sweet, spicy, barbecue like sauce good for those who have little tolerance for hot things, served with a couple of sauces (I only know them as white and orange)with a bowl of orange sauce that was fiery and woke up the senses. Add a touch if you want a little spice, but more than a drop is punishment for those who don’t regularly eat spicy food.

My favorite of the bunch was the Silantro’s quesadilla (P160)

Silantro quesadilla

 

Basically a cheese plate, it was fries, cheese, bread, and other blobs of things that I couldn’t stop eating. We also had the beef version, but I liked the Silantro’s better.

What we had that wasn’t pictured:

1. The Silantro’s Burrito (P180): I wasn’t a fan. The rice had a frozen, then nuked texture to it. The meat didn’t chew well either. Burritos for me are 50-50, either you do them well or you don’t, and for me, they did not do the rice wrap justice.

2. Unlimited mojitos (P250): We loved it. It wasn’t the most faithful rendition of mojitos, but it was sweet, citrusy, sometimes strong, and the bartender was easy to talk to about adjusting the sweet or the strong depending on the three people that were drinking it. My sister had the most lethal mix, one friend had the sweeter, the last, more juice than anything. They each had at least three glasses each.

Verdict: Definitely Mexican for Filipinos, everything had a slightly sweet tinge, and gobs of cheese on every dish. Not faithful to the original recipes, but caters to the Filipino palate, and is on a cool, casual setting that is affordable for both yuppies and college students on a good day.

Tips: Go early. Place fills up and you don’t want to be waiting forty minutes for a seat. Have the unlimited mojitos if you like girl drinks, the beer buckets for a nice, chill time with friends with fun food.

Price per head: P200-300 with drinks and definitely full bellies.

Silantro’s details:

Hours: Mon - Sun: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm

75 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig City
1603 Pasig (just go straight on Kapitolyo. It’s past Rub ribs, and next to the Christian church)
Phone (02) 654 9657
Email silantropasig@yahoo.com